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Cycling up 7 Devils today, a massive mountain with six false summits before cresting the ridge! Sunset Bay to Bandon was a rough one in the beginning, but was full of downhill riding through the end of the day!
Cycling Sunset Bay to Bandon, Oregon is the 11th of nearly 30 daily diaries of our cycle trip from Seattle to San Francisco.
If you’d like to read from the beginning, check out, getting to Seattle. Each post in this cycle series will contain our daily journal entries that we kept via Track My Tour, photos captured throughout the day, and the exact route, duration, and elevation gains for the given ride.
Read Our Complete Guide to Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway Here
Let’s dive into Biking the Pacific Coast Highway, Day 10, Sunset Bay to Bandon, Oregon.
Cycling Sunset Bay to Bandon, Oregon
A super short day on the saddle today. Only 33 miles of cycling, and a large portion of it downhill after climbing the monstrous 7 Devils!
7 Devils is a set of seven climbs, each one steeper and harder than the one before. The devilish part of the ride is false-summiting six times, each false summit with a flattish section and a view of the next massive climb ahead.
There was a race or something going on just before we climbed 7 Devils so the encouraging spray-painted comments on the road were a great addition to getting us up the mountain!
Bandon was a lovely town with a cute little market, and our hosts were even greater! We loved our stay with Suzy an Ed and still think of them to this day!
Biking Sunset Bay to Bandon, Oregon Day Ten Quick Facts
- Miles // 33.02 miles
- Saddle Time // 3 hrs 10 min
- Elevation // 1,535 feet
- Accommodation // WarmShowers south of Bandon
- Water // at Sunset Bay and in Bandon
- Food // Great food in Reedsport and Bandon
Pacific Coast Highway Day 10 Journal Entry
Friday 14 Aug 2015 22:35
Day 10: Last night we had a fire and enjoyed each other’s company along with a British guy who pulled into camp late.
As we were sitting around the campfire just 20 minutes or so into the burn, some lightning and thunder decided to come out and say hello. There was no rain, so we continued to enjoy the fire. But about an hour in, the sky started to sprinkle on us then quit. This happened about three times until the last became an all-out drenching downpour.
We all quickly ran for our tents and said goodnight.
In the morning, we woke up to sunny skies, birds chirping and grass evaporating the rain from the night before. Because today was going to be an easy day, we got out of bed around 9:30 and enjoyed making breakfast and hangout before taking down camp.
We got on the road around 12 noon. Late start, but not bad for about a 30-mile day. We headed out and chose to take the less traveled 7 Devils highway to bypass some of the busy 101.
7 Devils isn’t named that for no easy riding. It’s named that because there are 7 peaks that basically shoot straight up each time, making the one before it looks like child’s play.
Our legs were burning, but it was the good kinda burn. We knew we were working for it and the reward of going down was so nice.
The overall elevation gain was only 1,535 feet in our total of 33 miles.
Warm Showers in Bandon…
We ultimately got to Bandon around 2:30. We walked around the town a little bit, had some samples at the grower’s market, ate some fish tacos at Tony’s Crab Shack, then ventured over to the Creamery to have some fresh cheese samples. After indulging ourselves in all this goodness, we hurried to where we would be staying for the night through Warm Showers.
Our hosts were a kind, older woman by the name Suzy and her partner Ed. Their home was on Laurel Lake seven miles south of Bandon on the west side of 101. Their house is beautiful, and the lake was spectacular.
Maarten, Heather, and I went for a swim and paddle boarded in the lake. this lake is at a surface temperature of 76 degrees and 72 degrees 6 feet down. It was so refreshing to explore and relax around the lake after our ride today. After we got in, Suzy offered us some drinks and homemade angel food cake. What a wonderful way to end the day.
The overall distance so far is 507.83 miles.
Cycler’s Tips for Sunset Bay to Bandon, Oregon | PCH Day 10
- Look for Warm Showers for today’s ride. Be sure to schedule this in advance! It’s a great way to meet people and learn more about the area you’re cycling through!
- Bandon is a cute little Oregon Coast town. There’s a market right down on the water and a couple of different crab shacks to grab some fresh seafood at!
- If you’re not into staying at someone else’s house, check out Bullard’s Beach State Park just north of Bandon, or the state parks just slightly to the south.
More on Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway
Bikepacking Gear List and Store Recommendations
Our complete list of all the bike gear we took on our trip from Seattle to San Fransisco. Ideas of where to get your bike gear so you don’t spend an arm and a leg, and a printable checklist for ensuring you pack all the gear you need!
Cycle Rules in Oregon | A Bicyclist’s Manual
Did you know, in Oregon, as a cyclist you’re technically considered a car and must oblige by vehicle road rules? Use that knowledge as confidence to take over the lane when there’s not a safe shoulder and really own the road!
Our Ultimate Guide to Biking the West Coast of America
This post contains our gear list, all our daily journal entries, FAQs on cycling the PCH, and downloads to make your PCH cycle trip easier!
Next Daily Journal Entry on our Pacific Coast Highway Bike Tour
Biking from Bandon to Humbug State Park or even further south is actually a popular ride for day cyclist.. we did it fully packed, read about it here!
Previous Daily Journal Entry on our Pacific Coast Highway Bike Tour
Amazing fish tacos on the ride and spaghetti and a bottle of wine with the sunset at Sunset Bay State Park.
Camping for Free on your Bike Tour
Interested in learning more about camping for free on your bike tour? We’re sharing ways to find free camping, what you need to know about free camping, and even our favorite places!
Have questions about day 10, cycling Sunset Bay to Bandon? Need a bit more information about the trip as a whole? Or just want to share your experiences? We’d love to hear from you.. start a conversation below!
